No more squirrel handouts at Wisconsin Capitol

Wisconsin is asking people to refrain from feeding squirrels at the state Capitol because they might inadvertently harm a child with a peanut allergy. [SIGN UP: Get bizarre news sent to you]

The state sent a letter Monday to tenants of a downtown Madison office building, asking whomever has been feeding the squirrels on the Capitol lawn to please stop.

Ron Blair, of the Division of State Facilities, writes in the letter that someone has been carpeting the Capitol lawn with peanuts. He says the indiscriminate nut-tossing might pose a risk because thousands of school children tour the building each year and some might have peanut allergies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 4 percent to 8 percent of children have a food allergy, with peanuts being one of the most common. Some can have a reaction just touching or being near peanuts.